Ukraine Drone Attack Sets Tanker Ablaze Off Russia’s Sochi, 23 Indians Rescued

Ukraine Drone Attack Sparks Massive Tanker Fire Off Sochi; 23 Indian Crew Rescued

A Ukrainian attack on an oil tanker off Russia’s Black Sea coast triggered a massive fire on Tuesday evening, sending a thick plume of black smoke over the resort city of Sochi and prompting restrictions along parts of the coastline.

Russian authorities said the tanker, sailing under the Liberian flag, was targeted by naval drones while carrying crude oil. The fire was reportedly so intense that emergency crews were initially unable to approach the vessel.

Russia’s Transport Ministry said all 23 members of the tanker’s crew were rescued. The ministry said all of them were Indian nationals.

Huge Fire Visible From Sochi

Videos and photographs shared from Sochi showed flames burning intensely at sea, with a towering column of dark smoke rising above the Black Sea.

The blaze was visible from parts of the popular resort city, which has a population of nearly half a million. Local authorities subsequently restricted access to sections of the coastline and beaches as emergency operations continued.

The Transport Ministry said the crude oil was burning directly on the surface of the Black Sea, highlighting the potential environmental impact of the incident.

Black Sea Shipping Increasingly Caught in War

Commercial shipping in and around the Black Sea has increasingly come under attack since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The latest incident comes days after Russia targeted grain-carrying vessels transporting Ukrainian goods near the coast of Romania, a member of the European Union.

Both Moscow and Kyiv have intensified attacks on infrastructure linked to the other side in recent weeks, raising concerns for commercial vessels operating in the region.

Ukraine has repeatedly defended strikes on Russian oil facilities and energy infrastructure as retaliation for Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Russia and Ukraine Escalate Strikes

The tanker attack comes amid a broader escalation in aerial and infrastructure strikes.

Russia has recently expanded its attacks on Kyiv, including daytime drone strikes targeting the capital. The attacks have caused major disruption in the city, including severe traffic congestion.

Ukraine, meanwhile, has continued targeting Russian energy infrastructure and oil facilities in an effort to disrupt Moscow’s war-related logistics and revenues.

Earlier Ukrainian attacks on oil installations in southern Russia have caused oil spills, beach closures and reports of black or contaminated rain in affected areas.

The latest tanker fire adds another major incident to the growing risks faced by commercial shipping operating in the Black Sea, where civilian vessels have increasingly found themselves caught amid the continuing conflict.